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Independence: 28 February 1922 (from UK protectorate status; the revolution that began on 23 July 1952 led to a republic being declared on 18 June 1953 and all British troops withdrawn on 18 June 1956); note - it was ca. 3200 BCE that the two lands of Upper (southern) and Lower (northern) Egypt was first united politically

National holiday: Revolution day, 23 July (1952)

Constitution: 11 September 1971; amended 22 may 1980, 25 may 2005, and 26 march 2007; note - constitution dissolved by the military caretaker government 13 February 2011

Legal system:

Based on the Islamic and civil law (particularly Napoleonic codes); judicial review by Supreme Court and council of state (oversees validity of administrative decisions); accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Executive branch: Chief of state: President (vacant); Vice President (vacant); note - following the resignation of President Mohamed Hosni Mubarak in February 2011, the supreme council of the armed forces, headed by defense minister Muhammad Hussein Tantawi, assumed control of the government Head of government: Prime Minister Essam Abdel Aziz Sharaf (since 4 March 2011); Deputy Prime Minister Yehia El-Gamal (since 24 February 2011)Cabinet: a new cabinet was sworn in on 7 March 2011

Legislative branch: Bicameral system consists of the advisory council or Majlis Al-Shura (Shura Council) that traditionally functions mostly in a consultative role (264 seats; 176 members elected by popular vote, 88 appointed by the President; members serve six-year terms; mid-term elections for half of the elected members) and the people's assembly or Majlis Al-Sha'b (518 seats; 508 members elected by popular vote, 64 seats reserved for women, 10 appointed by the President; members serve five-year terms)Elections: advisory council - last held in June 2010 (next to be held in 2013); people's assembly - last held in November-December 2010 in one round of voting and one run-off election (next to be held in 2015); note - on 13 February 2011 the ruling military council dissolved the parliamentElection results: advisory council - percent of vote by party - Na; seats by party - NDP 80, Al-Geel 1, Nasserist 1, NWP 1, Tagammu 1, Tomorrow Party 1, Independents 3; People's Assembly - percent of vote by party - Na; seats by party - NDP 419, NWP 6, Tagammu 5, Democratic Peace Party 1, Social Justice Party 1, Tomorrow Party 1, Independents 71, seats undecided 4, seats appointed by President 10

Judicial branch: Supreme constitutional court

Political parties and leaders: Al-Geel; Democratic Peace Party; Nasserist Party

; National Democratic Party or NDP (governing party)

; National Progressive Unionist Grouping or Tagammu

; New WAFD Party or NWP

; Social Justice Party

; Tomorrow Party

Note: formation of political parties must be approved by the government; only parties with representation in elected bodies are listed

Political pressure groups and leaders: Muslim Brotherhood (technically illegal)Note: despite a constitutional ban on religious-based parties and political activity, the technically illegal Muslim Brotherhood constitutes Egypt's most potentially significant political opposition. President Mubarak has alternated between tolerating limited political activity by the Brotherhood and blocking its influence (its members compete as independents in elections but do not currently hold any seats in the legislature); civic society groups are sanctioned, but constrained in practical terms; only trade unions and professional associations affiliated with the government are officially sanctioned; internet social networking groups and bloggers

Flag description: Three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black; the national emblem (a gold Eagle of Saladin facing the hoist side with a shield superimposed on its chest above a scroll bearing the name of the country in Arabic) centred in the white band; the band colours derive from the Arab Liberation flag and represent oppression (black), overcome through bloody struggle (red), to be replaced by a bright future (white)Note: similar to the flag of Syria, which has two green stars in the white band, Iraq, which has an Arabic inscription centered in the white band, and Yemen, which has a plain white band

National anthem: Name: "Bilady, Bilady, Bilady" (my homeland, my homeland, my homeland) Lyrics/music: Younis-Al Gadi/Sayed DarwishNote: adopted 1979; after the signing of the 1979 peace with Israel, Egypt sought to create an anthem less militaristic than its previous one; Sayed Darwish, commonly considered the father of modern Egyptian music, composed the anthem.

Economy

Economy - overview: Occupying the northeast corner of the African continent, Egypt is bisected by the highly fertile Nile valley, where the most economic activity takes place. Egypt's economy was highly centralized during the rule of former President Gamal Abdel Nasser but opened up considerably under former Presidents Anwar el-Sadat and Mohamed Hosni Mubarak. Cairo, from 2004 to 2008, aggressively pursued economic reforms to attract foreign investment and facilitate GDP growth. The global financial crisis slowed the reform efforts. The budget deficit climbed to over 8% of GDP and Egypt's GDP growth slowed to 4.6% in 2009, predominately due to reduced growth in export-oriented sectors, including manufacturing and tourism, and the Suez Canal revenues. In 2010, the government spent more on infrastructure and public projects, and exports drove GDP growth to more than 5%, but GDP growth is unlikely to bounce back to pre-global financial recession levels when it stood at 7%. Despite the relatively high levels of economic growth over the past few years, living conditions for the average Egyptian remain poor.

Communications

Telephone system: General assessment: underwent extensive upgrading during the 1990s; principal centers at Alexandria, Cairo, al Mansoura, Ismailia, Suez, and Tanta are connected by coaxial cable and microwave radio relay Domestic: the largest fixed-line system in the region; as of 2010 there were three mobile-cellular networks with a total of more than 55 million subscribers

Broadcast media: Mix of state-run and private broadcast media; state-run TV operates 2 national and 6 regional terrestrial networks as well as a few satellite channels; about 20 private satellite channels and a large number of Arabic satellite channels are available via subscription; state-run radio operates about 70 stations belonging to 8 networks; 2 privately-owned radio stations operational (2008)

Internet country code: .eg

Internet hosts: 187,197 (2010)Country comparison to the world: 67

Internet users: 20.136 million (2009)Country comparison to the world: 21

Military service age and obligation: 18-30 years of age for male conscript military service; service obligation 12-36 months, followed by a 9-year reserve obligation (2008)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international: Sudan claims but Egypt de facto administers security and economic development of Halaib region north of the 22nd parallel boundary; Egypt no longer shows its administration of the Bir Tawil trapezoid in Sudan on its maps; Gazan breaches in the security wall with Egypt in January 2008 highlight difficulties in monitoring the Sinai border; Saudi Arabia claims Egyptian-administered islands of Tiran and Sanafir

Illicit drugs: The transit point for cannabis, heroin, and opium moving to Europe, Israel, and North Africa; transit stop for Nigerian drug couriers; concern as money laundering site due to lax enforcement of financial regulations